Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-18
OBNOXIOUS BUILDING REGULA.
TIONS.
Committees Appointed to Take the
Bnilders' Complaints Before the Pres
ident and Congress.

ident and Congress.
The call for public meeting last evening at
Willard hail OF all those interested in the building
and improvement OF the city to take some action
in the late order OF the Commissioners in relation
to the occupancy OF the streets by those engaged
in building was not very largely responded to.
Some of those present said IL the attendance rep
resented those interested In this matter, then it
was evident that the building interests OF the city
had reached very low ebb. When owners found
that the cost OF building greater account of
this order and workmen discovered that they lost
time. call OF this kind would bring out an i'm
menSe crowd. However, 1t was decided to proceed
with the meeting. Mr.. ID. j. Macarty called the
meeting to order. and Mr.. Win. c. Morrison was
elected chairman and Mr.. Thomas J. King secre-
taIy. The chairman called for expressions of
opinion from those present. and one OF the audi
ehee. who said that he was Journeyman brick
layer expressed the opinion that il we We're a free
people the District commissioners would never
have dared To issue such an order. He character
Yea The order as arbitrary. unjust and as the nat
ufsi consequence of having rulers not directly &C
collntahle 10 the people.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
\ set OF resolutions were offered by Mr.. c. c.
Martin and adopted. Tie resolutions recited that
the recent order can have hut one effect, namely,
adding another item OF cost building for which
the owner will receive no equivalent The use of
the streets Tor this purpose had been allowed
since the foundation OF the city and even when
the streets allows ample room for travel. II is
IuTthef feeit"d that ''in all streets occupied by
S'feet faiiWa3s. except PENNSYLVANIA and New
fork avenues, IT Will be impossible tn conform
the order, and In numerous other streets where
the parking Is too narrow TO admit of mortar,
stone, or other materials being deposited thereon,
unseSS in such small quantities as 10 render it
difficult 10 build with expedition. and certainly
MOI without very considerable increase in cost
~ Is therefore resolved that the issue OF the
ORDER Is an arbitrary exercise of power uncalled
Tor by private or public interests, and that no
fnnges DE made in the present building reguIa,
committee be appointed at this meeting to lay
thtse resolutions before District committees OF the
senate and House OF Representatives, the District
order"
Mr.. John Rabbit plasterer. asked If this order
was carried OUT In cases where the streets were
narrow and there was no parking where the ma
terial could be placed. There was not always
mortar ON the roof He would therefore Inquire
where the material could be put?
The chairman. pleaSantly-'lf knew, Mr.. Rab-
ols.. would be very glad TO tell you
Mr.. George Cook. builder, said that he thought
If The same power that had whispered into the
ears OF the President the case In the police
scandal that they were going too far. it would re-
suit in benefit 10 the city, II was the first time in
his experience that he had ever known of the
ments az the city. lie blamed the two resident
commissioners for allowing such an order to be
made.
This brought Mr. Rabbit TO his feet. who said
that the firm OF which Commissioner Wheatiey
was formerly Q member used the streets freely for
storing their lumber and lime and no objection
was made.
MR.. KING MAKES A SUGGESTION.
Mr.. King the secret airy. said that il the escape
NJ water from the mortar boxes the ST reefs was
Objectionable he thoughts il would be greater
nuisance when the boxes were placed on the park
ing ana III" water ran over The sidewalk. 1t
seemed 10 HIM that IL was an effort TO compel plaS
teItrS 10 buy their mortar already made from large
frmS which he understood were about to he eS-
tabfshed here. The commissioners might not he
personally interested in this scheme, hut he
thought that some one in their Office vas For his
old regulations and he believed that the courts
would decide that the new rules were Illegal I'M
less sanctioned by congress-. c. c. Martin. Geo.
IL. Turton and John Rabbit were appointed a
committee 10 present the resolutions to the COM
mitte2S o. congress.
A PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. George Cook offered resolution in effect
that petition to the President be prepared asking
that the Commissioners be not allowed to enforce
their new regulation, and the same be circulated
among various labor organizations and among cti-
ZenS Oh the District Tor signatures This resolution
was adopted, and the following committee was
appointed to prepare the petition: Motley Ander-
son, George Cook, T. LangdOn, P. n. Dwyer and
jacob VehmeJer. One OF the speakers referred to
caused by the material lying in front Of new
house near nth and II Street2 which one or the
commissioners had TO walk over and about for
some time. The meeting adjourned subject to a
call OF the committee on petition.